Cyber crime snapped teen's photo while online

INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) - It's one of the latest viruses hitting computers across the world, and one victim is a middle schooler in Greenwood.

Eighth-grader Jordan Zumwalt was on her laptop in bed when suddenly she became terrified she was heading to jail.

"What did I do wrong? Did I seriously break a law?" said Jordan.

Her screen went blank, and then a warning from what looked to be the FBI.

She had violated a number of articles, it said, and she was looking at jail time or at least lost control of her computer if she didn't pay up.

"It's got the real FBI logo on it. It's got the real FBI seal. I mean when you go to the website, they're exactly the same," said Jordan's Father, Eric Zumwalt.

Jordan's parents were confused at first but soon realized this so-called FBI violation was nothing but a scam.

"Going through everything slowly, I said, 'Okay this is definitely a scam,' and she goes, 'But Mom, how do you know?' 'They spelled copyright wrong,'" said Jordan's Mother, Allyn Zumwalt.

"Our Internet Complaints Center takes a lot of complaints about this particular type of cyber attack," said Special Agent in Charge, Robert Jones.

Special Agent in Charge of the Indianapolis FBI Robert Jones says this virus started appearing in the United States in May 2012 and has been duping people, mostly the elderly and the young, ever since.

"Someone can send this type of attack to hundreds of thousands of people and if only one percent believe the hoax and pay it, that's still a significant amount of money for the criminals that perpetrate these kind of crimes," said Jones.

Jordan's parents know that cyber crimes are common but there was one part about this scam, it took a picture of Jordan, and that's what has them really alarmed. "It made a sound when it took a picture, like a click, and then it just kind of came up and at first I was like, 'What?' And then it showed the picture," said Jordan.

It was a picture of Jordan, lying down, in her bed clothes. Her parents are now left feeling a deep anger for whoever is scamming their little girl and threatening her innocence.

"They took a picture of my baby and to know that, at any time, they can access somebody's computer and randomly take pictures or keep it on, it's terrifying," said Allyn.

If you fall victim to this cyber crime, Jones says go www.IC3.gov - report the crime, and then hire a computer specialist to clear your computer of the virus.